Saturday letters: Unemployment aid debate

Copyright 2014: Houston Chronicle

Published 7:05 pm, Friday, January 10, 2014

Talking points

Regarding "No. 1 job for House: Extend emergency unemployment aid" (Page B9, Wednesday), it is most regrettable that so many people are out of work, but U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee needs to make a better point in her op-ed rather than just trying to garner more tax dollars for unemployed workers.

Every day I see the openings for workers with any sort of skill, and those opportunities are in Houston, in Texas, throughout the United States and, for that matter, around the world.

To quote an old TV ad, "Got Milk?" the new ad would be, "Got skills?" And if you answered "yes," there is a good chance there is a job for you. Now, it may not be all you want right now, but at least if you accept the job and do it well, you will be better off than those who sit idly by and collect unemployment.

I hope Lee realizes that the longer people stay on the dole, the more difficult it will be to wean them off the rolls.

There is plenty to be done today to get the economy moving, but giving money to some unemployed people without some effort on their part to find a new job is like flushing the tax dollars down the toilet.

Perhaps Jackson Lee should take a close look at the benefits of the Keystone XL pipeline construction project that has been delayed by her president - a project that would employ 20,000 workers for quite some time.

Lawrence Keen, Pearland

Specifics please

In her op-ed, Sheila Jackson Lee obviously parroted Democratic talking points in declaring that the extension of the unemployment program will create an estimated 200,000 jobs.

Hopefully, Jackson Lee can do a follow-up explaining the specifics of how the extension of the unemployment program is going to create 200,000 jobs. Under that theory, we need to have 5 million new people file for unemployment benefits.

The Republicans' approach to this issue seems reasonable. They say the government should extend the benefits but not unless a way can be found to pay for the extension. This rationale should be applied to any increase in government spending.

However, the problem with this position is that the Republicans have not offered any solutions as to where cuts may be made to raise the money necessary for the extension. Their reluctance to cut oil subsidies, farm subsidies or the like demonstrates that they are much more interested in corporate welfare than the well being of their human constituents.

Sheila Jackson Lee continues the philosophy of helping those in need without any plan for paying for the benefits. Any of us who have found ourselves unemployed know the anxiety and difficulties faced in such a situation. Research continues to point out that when benefits stop, most of those who have been receiving benefits somehow find employment. It is popular for politicians to continue to recommend and support financial aid for our fellow citizens, regardless of the circumstances. It helps to build the voter base.

However, we know that those who can work should work, and we are doing our citizens no favors by handing out taxpayer dollars indefinitely. Lee could gain some measure of credibility by introducing a plan to train and prepare unemployed workers to become employable. That would be a good use of public funds. Ever hear of teaching a man to fish?